Parish Councils


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Crime briefing There had been seven crimes reported during the past month, mainly aempted the and burglary. Leer scam Communitywarden Martin Sherwood reported on a leer scam being investigated by trading standards officers. He had a DVD on how the scamworks and was willing to show any resident who requests it. Thanks Borough Cllr TomSams announced his resignation from Maidstone Council with immediate effect. Hewas thanked for all his support andwork for the parish council. Apologies KCCward Cllr Jenny While sent apologies for not aending the meeting. Itwas her husband’s birthday and Jenny believed he needed to have some aention. LenbusAdecision had been made to carry on with the present scheme for another month and try to resolve the differences with the insurers of the other vehicle involved.


Neighbourhood plan The parish council had agreed to appoint a professional company to put together a neighbourhood plan once further public consultations had taken place. Solar park The clerk advised she had been


contacted several times by residents about HGV contractors for the site being off the only recommended route. She had advised the developer and new signs and an apologywere given. The clerk had arranged a meeting onsite with the contractor over the issues of delivery vehicles. Website Flowbox should have the new website up and running by June/July. Twien footpath Aquote for clearing and trimming the Twien footpath between Maidstone Road and Ham Lanewas accepted Pool The Swadelands outside swimming poolwould be open this summer aer a two-year closure. Old telephone kiosk The option offered by the insurerwas accepted and no extra cost would be incurred. Itwas agreed that a package for a new computer and associated equipment would be purchased as agreed out of next year’s budget, along with a laptop that would hold CCTV footage that the police might require.


Otham


Road closure The road closure in Leeds looked likely to continue until the end of


May. Itwas pointed out that all roads in the areawere being used as rat runs. WorldWar I centenary Dr Vaux kindly offered to discuss the planting of poppy seeds with the pre-school. Turfwould be cut from the war memorial and seeds planted. Further ideaswould be welcome. Football club An enforcement group had been set up by Maidstone Council aer treeswere felled on the Honey Lane frontage. The ownerwas reminded of their duty to replant trees cut down last year. Village green Due to funding from KCC Cllr Gary Cooke’s member’s grant scheme, it was now possible to install 40 new verge posts in concrete. PaulWaring’s quote for cuing the grass during 2014was accepted by the council. Community Rights – the right to bid It was broadly agreed by members that the maerwould be pursued based on the understanding that if the White Horse public housewas to come up for sale, the villagewould be interested in buying it at the going rate. Annual meeting The annual parish meetingwas held at the end of April. The annual parish council meetingwould precede the monthly meeting on May 12 at 7.30pm.


No-go for 40 homes idea Warren project


ONE of several plans for new homes in Harrietsham has been thrown out by Maidstone Council. Hillreed’s outline application for


40 houses on fields south of Court Lodge Road would cause “signifi- cant harm to the character, appear- ance and landscape of the area”, according to the council’s planning officers. The developerwas proposing to


build houses and garages on eight acres of open land – providing an area for a community park or na- ture reserve and a footpath to the


railway station through the estate. But planning officers said the greenfield development would have been detrimental to the se- cluded setting of two nearby listed properties, Lake Cottage and the former boathouse. The developerwas also criticised


for failing to provide information about flooding risk or details of how it would provide affordable housing and fund improvements to the local school and community facilities to offset the impact on the area’s social infrastructure.


Man jailed for


BOXLEY Parish Council’s Cele- brating Boxley Warren project is expected to be completed by June with much of what was planned being achieved. Among outstanding work, an aspiration to clear a viewpoint around the bench to expose the far-reaching view and to also pro- vide a wet habitat, using water run-off from the Pilgrims Way track, to create a pond.Apotential funding shortfall had been re- solved and Aylesford Parish Council was thanked for its con- tribution of £400.


Overhanging trees causing problems


BEARSTED Parish Council is to convene a meeting with residents in Roseacre Lane who are affected by problematic overhanging trees. The trees, which belong to the parish and


some of which are subject to tree preservation orders (TPOs) are causing a hazard to prop- erty, residents and motorists. The parish council agreed to convene a meeting with those people affected, a tree sur- geon and representatives of Maidstone Coun- cil to agree on the best course of remedial action. The council is also to get guidance from Maidstone Council about the feasibility of un- dertaking a bat survey in the area.


Police open office on railway platform


BRITISH Transport Police has opened a station on platform one at Maid- stoneWest railway station. By the end of the year, the transport police will have 19 officers based


there – 15 PCs, three sergeants and an inspector – with a front office open to the public from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Its station at Ashford will remain open. Assistant Chief Constable Mark Newton, of BTP, said: “We are currently working to challenge targets set by the British Transport Police Authority to reduce crime by 20%, disruption on the railway by 20% and to increase passenger confidence by 10%, all by 2019.”


sexual assaults AMANwho targeted and then sex- ually abused young women in Maidstone between 2006 and 2012 has been jailed. David Rayner (59) appeared be-


fore Maidstone Crown Court where he was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Formerly of Manns Hill, Canterbury, Rayner had previously denied two charges of sexual assault but was found guilty by a jury. He was said to have made lewd comments to a teenage girl in Gabriel’s Hill. He made suggestions about her skirt, lured her into a room and assaulted her. Following his arrest and an inves- tigation by Kent Police, Rayner was charged with a further assault in Gabriel’s Hill, which had taken place in November 2006. In this in- cident he put his arms around a 20- year-old woman and told her he wanted sex. The victim refused. De- spite this Rayner assaulted her, be- fore pleading with the victim: “Don’t tell anyone about this, just keep it between us”. Police Sergeant Nicola Mullins


said: “David Rayner targeted young and vulnerable women and abused them. He has refused to accept any responsibilities for his actions, which has meant more distress for his victims.” Rayner was also ordered to sign


the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.


Birthday picnic


Asst Ch ConMark Newton with Charles Horton, Southeastern’s managing director.


VILLAGERS will celebrate the birth- days of six 80-year-olds who have made a massive contribution to the community of Detling at a parish picnic on June 28.


Maidstone East May 2014 63


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